Investing in digital competence education for healthcare workers, complete with practical training in HIPAA compliant email solutions, can create a secure, collaborative, and well-supported digital environment that improves patient care.
Providers must improve their digital competencies with the increasing use of digital solutions in healthcare.
A recent review in the International Journal of Medical Informatics on educational interventions and their effects on healthcare professionals’ digital competence development states, "Training should provide knowledge as well as opportunities to interact with peers and instructors.”
The review also says, “Skills and confidence should be enhanced through practical training. Adequate organizational support, encouragement, and individual, needs-based guidance should be provided.”
Central to this education is using a HIPAA compliant email solution, a tool that streamlines communication and secures patient privacy.
Bridging the digital divide with secure email
A HIPAA compliant email solution helps healthcare professionals securely handle sensitive patient information while enhancing their digital confidence.
For example, a nurse coordinating post-surgical care for a patient recovering from a BBL can use secure email to communicate the recovery plan in detail to the patient and their primary care provider. It allows timely follow-ups and mitigates post-surgery complications, ultimately improving patient outcomes.
In addition, secure email could help support allied health professionals like physical therapists, allowing them to securely share progress reports or treatment plans with physicians.
Encouraging peer collaboration
HIPAA compliant emails also improve provider collaboration, allowing communication among professionals while maintaining patient confidentiality.
Let’s say a team of mental health practitioners analyzes patient behavior patterns to create personalized therapy plans. Secure email allows them to share insights and collaborate effectively, with the assurance that the patient's privacy remains intact.
Supporting patient education
Another aspect of digital health is improving patients’ knowledge of their conditions. For example, diabetes educators can use secure email to send personalized educational materials to patients, including dietary recommendations and medication schedules. In this way, health providers encourage individual responsibility among patients.
Similarly, email communication with their care teams can be beneficial for patients in rural areas where access to in-person consultation is limited. A secure platform allows such exchanges, whether lab results, health advice, or follow-up instructions, allowing patients to participate in their care.
Go deeper: How HIPAA compliant emails can increase health literacy
FAQs
What are HIPAA compliant emails?
HIPAA compliant emailing platforms, like Paubox, use encryption and other security measures, like access controls, to safeguard patients’ protected health information (PHI) from data breaches.
Are HIPAA compliant emails accessible to patients with disabilities?
Yes, HIPAA compliant emails can be designed to be accessible to patients with disabilities, giving them equal access to healthcare communication.
Can providers email patients for follow-up care?
Yes, providers can use HIPAA compliant emails to communicate with patients, give them follow-up instructions, and address potential questions.
Read also: Using emails and texts for follow-ups during post-discharge care
